Charles Perkins (Aboriginal activist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Perkins
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Charles Perkins,1966, graduation day at the University of Sydney
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| Born | 16 June 1936 Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
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| Died | 19 October 2000 (aged 64) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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| Nationality | Australian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other names | Charlie Perkins, Kumantjayi Perkins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Bachelor of Arts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | University of Sydney | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Known for | Activism, public service, soccer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse(s) | Eileen Munchenberg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | Hetti, Rachel and Adam | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Relatives | Madeleine Madden (granddaughter) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Charles Nelson Perkins (16 June 1936 – 19 October 2000), often called Charlie Perkins, was an important Aboriginal Australian activist, soccer player, and leader. He was the first Indigenous Australian man to finish university.
Perkins is famous for leading the 1965 Freedom Ride. This was a bus tour to protest unfair treatment of Aboriginal people. He also played a big part in getting people to vote "yes" in the 1967 referendum. This referendum changed the Australian Constitution to better include Aboriginal people. He also had a long career working for the government.
Contents
Early Life and Family History
Charles Perkins was born on 17 June 1936 in Alice Springs. His mother, Hetty Perkins, was from the Arrernte group. His father, Martin Connelly, had an Irish father and a Kalkadoon mother. Charles had one full brother and nine half-siblings.
He was also a cousin of the famous soccer player John Kundereri Moriarty. His great-niece, Pat Turner, was inspired by him to work for Indigenous rights. From 1952 to 1957, Charles worked as an apprentice in Adelaide.
He married Eileen Munchenberg in 1961. They had two daughters, Hetti and Rachel, and a son named Adam. His granddaughter, Madeleine Madden, is an actress.
Education and University Life
Charles Perkins went to school in Alice Springs and Adelaide. He later studied at the Metropolitan Business College in Sydney. In 1966, he graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts degree. This made him the first Indigenous man in Australia to graduate from university. While studying, he worked part-time cleaning toilets for the City of South Sydney.
Public Life and Activism
The Freedom Ride Campaign
In 1965, Charles Perkins was a key leader of the Freedom Ride. This was a bus trip through country towns in New South Wales. The goal was to protest against unfair rules and treatment of Aboriginal people. This action was inspired by similar protests in the US called the Civil Rights Freedom Rides.
The Australian Freedom Ride wanted to show how Aboriginal people faced discrimination in everyday life. They visited towns like Walgett and Moree. For example, in Walgett, a club for ex-servicemen refused entry to Aboriginal people, even those who had fought in wars. The protesters' bus was even forced off the road at one point.
On 20 February 1965, Perkins and his group tried to enter the public swimming pool in Moree. The local council had stopped Aboriginal people from using the pool for 40 years. The Freedom Riders stood at the gate, refusing to let anyone else in. They faced a large crowd of angry local white Australians. The protesters were hit with eggs and tomatoes. News of these events spread across Australia. Because of public pressure, the council finally allowed Aboriginal people to swim.
Later in 1965, Perkins staged a "fake kidnapping" of a 5-year-old girl named Nancy Prasad at Sydney airport. He did this to highlight the unfairness of Australia's "White Australia" immigration rules. This policy made it hard for non-white people to enter Australia. His action made headlines, but Nancy Prasad was still sent to Fiji.
The 1967 Referendum
In 1967, a very important vote, called a referendum, was held in Australia. This vote asked Australians if they wanted to change the Constitution. The changes would allow Aboriginal people to be counted in the national census. It would also give the Australian Parliament the power to make laws specifically for Aboriginal people.
Charles Perkins was a manager for the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs. This group played a big part in asking Australians to vote "yes" in the referendum. The changes passed with a huge majority of 90.77% of votes. This was a major step forward for Aboriginal rights.
Working for the Government
In 1969, Charles Perkins began working for the Australian government. He worked in departments that focused on Aboriginal affairs. He became the Secretary of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs in 1984. This was a very important role.
Throughout his career, Perkins was a strong voice for Indigenous people. He often spoke out against government policies that he felt were unfair. He was known for his passionate and direct comments. Even the Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, said that Perkins had a "burning passion" for helping his people.
He also served as the chairman of the Arrernte Council of Central Australia from 1991 to 2000. In 1993, he joined the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC). He was elected deputy chair in 1994.
Soccer Career and Leadership
Charles Perkins was also a talented soccer player. He started playing in 1950 with Port Thistle in Adelaide. He was even selected for a South Australia under-18 team in 1951. He played for several teams in Adelaide, including International United and Budapest.
In 1957, he went to England and trained with Everton FC. After a difficult incident where he faced a racist comment, he left Everton. He then played for Bishop Auckland, a top amateur team.
Perkins returned to Australia in 1959. He became captain and coach for Adelaide Croatia. He played alongside other important Aboriginal figures like Gordon Briscoe and John Kundereri Moriarty. When he moved to Sydney for university, he played for Pan-Hellenic (now Sydney Olympic FC). He became their captain and coach. He retired from playing in 1965.
Later, he became president of the National Soccer League team Canberra City. In 1987, he was made vice-president of the Australian Soccer Federation. He was also chairman of the Australian Indoor Soccer Federation for ten years until his death.
Recognition and Awards
Charles Perkins received many awards for his work.
- In 1966, he was named Jaycees Young Man of the Year.
- In 1993, he was named NAIDOC Aboriginal of the Year.
- In 1987, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for his services to Aboriginal welfare.
- In 2000, he was inducted into the Football Federation Australia Football Hall of Fame for his soccer achievements.
- He received honorary doctorates from the University of Western Sydney and the University of Sydney.
- The National Trust of Australia named him one of Australia's Living National Treasures.
Many people, including journalist John Farquharson, described Perkins as one of the most important Aboriginal people of modern times.
Death and Lasting Impact
In 1975, Charles Perkins wrote his autobiography, called A Bastard Like Me.
He passed away in Sydney on 19 October 2000 due to kidney failure. He had a kidney transplant in the 1970s and lived longer than most people with a transplant in Australia at that time. After his death, he was known as Kumantjayi Perkins in Arrernte culture. This name is used to refer to someone who has passed away. He was given a state funeral, and his body was returned to Alice Springs.
His legacy continues today:
- In 2001, the University of Sydney created the Dr Charles Perkins AO Memorial Oration and Prize in his honor.
- In 2009, The Charlie Perkins Trust started two scholarships each year. These allow Indigenous Australians to study at the University of Oxford.
- The Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney, opened in 2014, is named after him.
- In 2013, Australia Post released a series of postage stamps featuring five important Indigenous rights campaigners, including Perkins.
In the Arts and Media
There are several books written about Charles Perkins. Artist Bill Leak also painted a portrait of him.
In 2018, musician Paul Kelly wrote a song about Perkins called "A Bastard Like Me." The song's title comes from Perkins' autobiography. The music video for the song includes old footage from Perkins' life.
Films about Charles Perkins
- Freedom Ride (1993) is a part of a documentary series called Blood Brothers by Rachel Perkins (Charles's daughter) and Ned R. Lander.
- Fire Talker (2009) by Ivan Sen uses old film clips to create a close look at Perkins' life.
- Remembering Charlie Perkins (2009) features Gordon Briscoe sharing memories of his friend Charles Perkins and his fight for equality.
See also
